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Clarion names William Sutton Prize winners
The UK’s largest housing association has named the winners of its second £20,000 prize for social innovation and affordable housing design.
Social enterprise caterer Fat Macy’s won Clarion Housing Group’s William Sutton Prize for Social Innovation, while Jas Bhalla took home the William Sutton Prize for Placemaking and Affordable Housing Design.
Fat Macy’s was awarded for its proposal to expand its supper clubs and catering events, which get young Londoners off the streets and into their own homes while providing work experience.
Trainees accumulate credits for every hour they volunteer, which are paid into a secure deposit fund, enabling them to save money to move into their own home while developing skills for independent living.
It is set to open its first permanent venue in Peckham comprising a commercial kitchen, a restaurant space, a delicatessen and a ‘micro-hostel’ flat for four trainees. The prize money will be used to fund a tenancy support worker.
Nathalie Moukarzel, director of Fat Macy’s, said: “It feels absolutely incredible to have won the William Sutton Prize – we were nominated alongside so many amazing projects and we’re so grateful for Clarion’s support.
“The money will make a huge difference, enabling us to support even more young people through Fat Macy’s.”
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A proposal by the Art House to roll out and expand its Studio of Sanctuary programme was highly commended and won £5,000.
It enables artists seeking asylum to rebuild their portfolios, develop their practice and establish professional networks in the creative industries.
Jas Bhalla won for a planning proposal to turn nine main roads in outer London into dense urban streets through place-based design guidance.
It intends to use the £20,000 prize to accelerate the delivery of affordable housing by identifying underutilised brownfield land.
Jas Bhalla, founder of Jas Bhalla Architects, said: “I’m absolutely thrilled to have won the William Sutton Prize and it’s really special to see that such a big organisation is making space and time to talk about alternative ideas and look at ways of improving people’s lives.”
Jericho Road Solutions was highly commended for a plan to create urban commons and will receive £5,000.
Now in its second year, the William Sutton Prize was developed by Clarion to celebrate William Sutton’s legacy as a 19th century innovator and philanthropist.
Mr Sutton founded the William Sutton Housing Trust, which eventually became part of the 125,000-home landlord.
It is designed to encourage individuals and organisations to present a new concept, service or idea that will benefit social housing residents and communities, with the prize money intended to help develop the idea and maximise its impact. The funding is provided by the group’s charitable foundation, Clarion Futures.
Clare Miller, chief executive of Clarion, said: “I’m delighted that we’ll be working with these four inspirational organisations to develop their innovative projects through the William Sutton Prize, tackling some of the biggest issues facing society today.
“With more than 100 applications received over the summer, it was hard to choose our winners, but I’m sure they will go on to make a huge difference within their local communities and beyond.”
